Swinging rail-clamp.



UNITED STATES VATENT Fries.

JEROME F. BUSEY, OF VENICE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWINGING RAIL-CLAN! P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,420, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed August 28,1902. Serial No. 121,278. (NomodelJ To all whom, 2125 may concern.-

Be it known that I, JEROME F. BUSEY, of Venice, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Swinging Rail-Clamp, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a top plan view of my improved swinging rail-clamp, showing the parts in locked position in full lines and the clamp open in dotted lines; and Fig. 2 is a crosssection on the line II II of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 2 2 are the rails. 3 is a plate set under the joint and having a brace 4,which is preferably integral with the plate and fits over the flange of the rail and under and against the head thereof. to the tie by spikes 3, which fit on shoulders I) on the plate. On the other side of the joint is a movable holding-piece 5, pivoted to the plate 3 by a vertical bolt 6, situated at the side of the rail-joint. The holding-piece is adapted when moved against the joint to fit against the flange and the head of each rail and to extend, preferably, to or nearly to the level of the top surface of the head. It thus acts as a double brace. When forced against the rail, it is held by one or more bolts, which pass through holes 8 and engage the plate 3. The recesses in the brace 4 and in the piece 5 for fitting the flanges of the rails are preferably somewhat longer than the normal width of the flange.

For the purpose of forcing the piece 5 firmly against the rails I prefer to form grooves or ratchet-recesses 7 7 on the surface of the plate 3 to alford a purchase for a lever, and by engaging the lever in one of said grooves and then pressing it against the piece 5 and holding said piece against the rail while the bolt is inserted and screwed in the holeS thejoint can be made and tightened readily. The piece 5 has preferably a boss or projection 5 to afford a tapering recess for insertion of a bar when the piece 5 is to be loosened from the joint.

The joint is simple and strong and is easily applied to use.

I claim- 1. A rail-joint having a holding-piece piv- The plate 3 is held otedon a vertical pivot at one side of its center and at the side of the rail-joint, said holding-piece having a flat inner face adapted to fit against the sides of the rails, and a holding device arranged to retain it when swung 'intoplace; substantially as described.

2. I A rail-joint having a holding-piece pivoted on a vertical pivot situated at the side of the railjoint, said holding-piece being adapted to befitted against the side of the rails, means for holding it, a plate to which said holding-piece is pivoted, and a brace opposite to said piece bearing against the rails; substantially as described. 7 3. Arail-joint having a holding-piece pivoted on avertical pivot situated at the side of the rail-joint, said holding-piece being adapted to be fitted against the side of the rails, means for holding it, a plate to which said holding 'p'iece is pivoted, and a brace opposite to said piece bearing against the rails, said brace being integral with the plate; substantially as described.

4. A rail-joint having a holding-piece pivoted on a vertical pivot situated at the side of the rail-joint, said holding piece being adapted to be fitted against the side of the rails, and means for holding it, said piece being shaped to fit on the flange and under and against the side of the head, substantially as described.

piece adapted to be fitted against the side of the rails, means for holding it in combination --with a plate to which said holding-piece is pivoted, and recesses on said plate affording a purchase for a tighteninglever; substantially as described.

6. A rail-joint having a pivoted holdingpiece adapted to be fitted against the side of the rails, means for holding it in combination with'a plate to which said holding-piece is pivoted, and a recess on said plate affording a purchase for a tightening-lever, and a bolthole in said holding-piece; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

J. F. BUSEY. Witnesses:

GEO. B. BLEMING, L. A. CONNER, J r. 

